Dillon Gabriel using NIL to inspire, give back to former high school in Hawaii

When Dillon Gabriel started his college football career at UCF in 2019, building a brand and giving back to his hometown of Mililani, Hawaii, were part of his long-term aspirations.

Dreams he thought would be a reality if he found his way to the NFL. At that time, profiting off his own name, image and likeness was sacrilegious. For more than a century, the NCAA did not allow its athletes to earn a dollar. Even off their own publicity rights.

Everything changed in the summer of 2021, when the governing body gave in to a wave of state laws that ensured athletes could leverage their NIL. Gabriel has since moved on from UCF to Oklahoma and now Oregon. In the early stages of the NIL Era, the quarterback put aside money to give back to the boy’s basketball program at Mililani High School. 

“I wouldn’t have believed you if he told me this was going to happen however many years down the road,” he said.

Later this week will be the culmination of his work during his college career to support Mililani. At an event at his old high school on Friday, called “I’M INSPIRED,” Gabriel will present the football program with new uniforms. Brands like Nike, Guardian Caps, Raising Cane’s, Riddell, EvoShield and HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, among others, have contributed to the event. 

VICIS is participating as a primary sponsor, donating ZERO2 helmets to outfit the team. The VICIS sister brand Schutt is also contributing new XV series of shoulder pads.

“I think it being so fresh and so new, I think a lot of people are learning and trying to learn it as fast as possible,” Gabriel said. “But it’s been easy for me and super natural because this is something that I’ve always wanted to do. When NIL started out, I just gave sneakers to the basketball team and accessories. Super small, right? If we look at it in, in this case, it’s a small thing, but it could change somebody’s life. It could completely impact somebody’s life.

“I realized when I got to college – like the access to resources and how much growth I was able to have – I want that same thing for kids at Mililani High School so that more kids can get to college or play college athletics and set themselves up for success in the future.”

NIL has taught Dillon Gabriel life lessons

Dillon Gabriel was emphatic in his interview with On3 that this hasn’t come together without the team around him. He’s learned from football that all 11 players have to come together. The same goes for NIL with his busy schedule. Steven Smith, who represents Gabriel as an NIL talent manager for Legend Agency, has been crucial in helping the Oregon quarterback navigate this era of college sports. Smith has been with Gabriel since UCF, where Smith was the program’s director of player development. 

Starting to reap dollars off the field before reaching the NFL has been crucial, too. Gabriel said he’s figured out how to manage his dollars. He was on the Barstool podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys” recently, where he was asked about his favorite purchase in the NIL Era has been. He admitted it was a king bed, minivan, couch and his miniature schnauzer puppy, Winston.

One of Gabriel’s other proudest accomplishments is giving back to Mililani. Plus, getting a head start on giving back to his community has taught him some lessons, too. 

“I’ve learned I can’t donate a weight room back to the school right now,” he said. “I do know that, in the future, if you get people together, you can make it happen. And I think with this project, I realized, you can’t do it alone. You know, we’re not made to do life alone.”

Dillon Gabriel proves NIL can be a good thing

Dillon Gabriel is presenting new home and away jerseys to the football program. And thanks to the help of the event’s sponsors, athletes will receive a variety of football equipment. As much as giving back means to the quarterback, he also hopes it dispels the current way NIL is looked at.

Along with giving back through the dollars he’s earned, he’s used NIL funds to host retreats for his teammates. When he first arrived at Oklahoma, Gabriel funded a retreat for quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. He held a second event for the team’s offensive linemen.

Some college football fans have been quick to decry athletes earning dollars and the entire environment is pay-for-play. Household names like Gabriel are also signing pure NIL agreements – endorsement deals. He’s struck partnerships with EvoShield, EA Sports, Hal Smith Restaurants, Old Spice, Rock ‘Em Socks, Sonic and Topps since the summer of 2021. Gabriel is also a product of the transfer portal. He’s gone from UCF to Oklahoma and now to Oregon.

“I’ll give them credit, honestly, to everyone who has had comments because it’s new,” he said. “So nobody’s used to it, right? Like the NFL fans are used to trades, free agency and the draft every year. College fans aren’t. So I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for a lot going because it’s new.

“We’re all going through it together. It’s important to note that the players are going through the same thing. Change isn’t easy for the players. Transferring isn’t easy. NIL has impacted a lot of people’s lives in a positive way. Think about all the lives it’s impacted for kids who are able to use that money in a positive way for their families, for their life. For their future, setting themselves up. I think there are so many positives, but with anything, there are pros and cons. Although you see a lot of college students learning through NIL, at least they’re learning now, rather than when they get to the professionals.”

Giving back to community is important

On Thursday night, a day before the uniforms are unveiled, Gabriel is hosting a dinner to thank the sponsors who have stepped up to assist with the “I’M INSPIRED” event. It’s also a chance to get back home.

Oregon wrapped up its spring practice on Saturday with its annual spring game. The quarterback said the next steps for him this offseason are mastering the offseason and continuing to work on timing with his wide receivers – something Gabriel said always needs to be worked on. He’s also excited for the chance to compete for a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

He’s looking forward to returning to Mililani, a place that reminds him of why he loves football.

“I’ve always tried to remind myself why I do it,” he said. “And Mililani has done a great job with that, every time I go home. It’s always kept me rooted. A reminder of the love I have for the game and why I do what I do. It also reminds me that I represent more than just me, my family and the university. I represent the younger version of myself that wants to play at the next level.”